Snow and freezing weather disrupt sporting programme across UK

West Ham face a 380-mile round trip to and from Swansea

Premier League games are expected to go ahead this weekend despite snow and freezing weather gripping the UK.

Southampton have confirmed that they expect Saturday's game against Stoke to go ahead after talks with Hampshire Police and Southampton City Council.

A Premier League spokesman said they would continue to monitor the situation with seven games planned for Saturday.

Dozens of the weekend's sporting fixtures are already postponed, with some being switched to Sunday.

A total of 23 matches in the English Football League are off, as is the entire Scottish Professional Football League programme, although the four Scottish Cup quarter-finals could still go ahead.

"There are no pitch inspections scheduled at this stage, but we are in close contact with all clubs, police and local authorities to review all matches on a case-by-case basis," said a Scottish FA spokesman.

"As always, the safety of supporters, players and staff is our top priority."

Most of the UK remains under weather warnings for snow and ice until Saturday.

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Bournemouth have cancelled their plans to fly to Leicester and are now travelling by coach.

Six matches in the Championship have been called off, with the games at Aston Villa and Wolves both postponed on Saturday morning.

Eight matches in League One and nine games in League Two are off, with more pitch inspections at EFL clubs set to take place.

The National League programme in England has been seriously affected, with only Dover v Leyton Orient remaining on.

Tottenham's 6-1 FA Cup fifth-round replay win against Rochdale was played in heavy snow at Wembley on Wednesday

Three of Friday's Super League games were postponed, with St Helens and Wakefield moving their games to Sunday.

Wigan's match against Widnes went ahead as scheduled, while Hull FC's home game against Warrington was also played despite parts of the M62 being closed and Wolves cancelling their supporters' coaches.

In rugby union, Exeter Chiefs' top-of-the-table Premiership match against Saracens has been put back 24 hours to Sunday (15:00 GMT), with Harlequins following suit for their match against Bath.

Friday's Pro14 games at Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh and Ulster are all off.

All jump racing meetings across Britain have been abandoned until Sunday at the earliest.

The Scottish Ski & Boarder Cross Championships, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, have been cancelled after heavy snow caused roads to be closed around the Glenshee Ski Centre, in the Cairngorms National Park.

Elsewhere, Sunday's BBL Trophy final between Sheffield Sharks and Leicester Riders in Glasgow still goes ahead.

The UK Open darts tournament in Minehead has begun as scheduled on Friday, but no fans are allowed to attend because of "safety concerns".

The UK Open in Somerset is being played behind closed doors

Exeter's game with Chesterfield at St James Park was called off after several inches of snow fell in the city on Thursday

Postponed sporting events

Friday, 2 March

Super League:

Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons

Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants - rearranged for Sunday at 15:00 GMT

St Helens v Salford Red Devils - rearranged for Sunday at 16:00 GMT

Premiership:

Harlequins v Bath - rearranged for Sunday at 15:00 GMT

Pro14:

Cardiff Blues v Benetton

Edinburgh v Munster

Ulster v Glasgow

Scottish Championship:

Dundee United v St Mirren

Saturday, 3 March

Premiership:

Exeter Chiefs v Saracens - rearranged for Sunday at 15:00 GMT

Scottish Premiership:

Ross County v Partick Thistle

St Johnstone v Hamilton

Championship:

Aston Villa v QPR - rearranged for 13 March, KO 19:45

Barnsley v Norwich - rearranged for 13 March, KO 19:45

Brentford v Cardiff

Ipswich Town v Hull City - rearranged for 13 March, KO 19:45

Sheffield United v Burton Albion

Wolves v Reading

League One:

AFC Wimbledon v Charlton

Blackpool v Northampton Town

Bradford v Portsmouth

Doncaster v Bury

Gillingham v Rotherham

Oxford United v Fleetwood

Rochdale v Plymouth

Shrewsbury v Peterborough

League Two:

Barnet v Port Vale

Cheltenham v Notts County

Crawley v Wycombe

Crewe v Forest Green

Exeter v Chesterfield

Morecambe v Colchester

Newport v Accrington

Stevenage v Mansfield

Swindon v Yeovil

National League:

Aldershot v Hartlepool

Barrow v Eastleigh

Boreham Wood v Macclesfield

Chester v Bromley

Ebbsfleet United v Wrexham

Guiseley v Dagenham & Redbridge

FC Halifax v Sutton United

Maidenhead United v Woking

Solihull Moors v Maidstone

Torquay v AFC Fylde

Tranmere v Gateshead

Scottish Championship:

Dunfermline v Livingston

Inverness v Brechin City

Scottish League 1

Airdrieonians v Stranraer

Albion Rovers v Queen's Park

Alloa Athletic v East Fife

Arbroath v Ayr United

Forfar Athletic v Raith Rovers

Scottish League 2

Berwick Rangers v Stirling Albion

Clyde v Elgin City

Edinburgh City v Cowdenbeath

Montrose v Annan Athletic

Peterhead v Stenhousemuir